Chapter 079.1 â To Not Want Face When Given (1)
Du Xiao Li felt the loathing towards her from Nuoâer. Before she could say anything, Nuoâer already
straightened herself up and went behind Wang Ze, sizing up the estate in all directions, not giving
Du Xiao Li a single glance.
Fan Nuoâer was one of the more talented disciples among the younger generation. Medicine King
Valley although had quite a few female disciples studying medicine, some that were even older than
her, there werenât any that could rival her medical skills. Moreover, she was only nineteen and was
considered relatively young. Someday, she denitely will be able to make a name for herself. Thatâs
why, for a long time now, sheâs always considered to be like a princess of Medicine King Valley, and
also the object of everyoneâs worship.
Du Xiao Li can be considered the Cheng Yao Jin that charged out halfway. Even though, aside from
Niu Jing, no one else had seen her before, in the Medicine King Valley, her rumors were everywhere,
completely covering up her limelight. This made her very unhappy. Especially when she heard that
Du Xiao Li was only thirteen, she further didnât put this little shishu to heart, feeling everything was
all just rumors. How could there be someone this young, yet better than her!
(T/N: Chen Yao Jin is a Tang dynasty General. He was originally a leader in the peasant revolt during
the late Sui dynasty. This phrase originated from a anecdote in the late Sui dynasty. There was a
bandit called You Jun Da. He wanted to steal the Sui Yang Emperorâs imperial tribute. He found
himself a helper called Cheng Yao Jin, who at the time was a very poor peasant supporting his old
sickly mother. He sold bamboo rakes for a living btw. The saying came to be after he successfully
robbed the ocials transporting the imperial tribute en route multiple times. Every time no matter
how many guards there were, and no matter how strong they were, they would all be defeated by
Cheng Yao Jin who charged out midway with an axe.)
Just when she was planning to secretly sneak out of the valley sometime to go check out Du Xiao Li,
Han Ming Yuan came. After Qing Chen received the news, he immediately left Medicine King Valley
with Han Ming Yuan. Hearing that her shigong* and shifu were going to go, she thus, in the name of
taking care of them, followed them out together.
(T/N: Shigong loosely translates to teacher-grandfather; the hierarchy in these schools or sects are
all based on family terms.)
Seeing Du Xiao Li today, she was indeed like how sheâd imagined, merely an immature child.
Although she called her shishu on the surface, in her heart however, she didnât put Du Xiao Li to
(T/N: Shishu â teacher-uncle; specically someone whoâs a junior to your own shifu.)
Everyone all had Fan Nuoâerâs attitude taken in, each with their own thoughts, yet all didnât say
Du Xiao Li smiled and said, âShifu, senior brother, letâs go in rst.â
Du Xiao Li brought the few of them into the courtyard, rst taking them to go see the Grand
Empress Dowager and Meng Old Madam. They were going to be living here, so the Grand Empress
Dowagerâs matter denitely couldnât be kept from them. Besides, by letting them know, they can
also help remove the gu for the Grand Empress Dowager. In any case, her shifu and the Grand
Empress Dowager were also old acquaintances. Running into one another here, itâs not like they
canât not go greet her.
The Grand Empress Dowager had already gotten up and was currently in the courtyard sunbathing
and chatting with Meng Old Madam. Hearing that Hu Yi Jian came, she said, âOur old friend came,
âEn, havenât seen him in a long time.â Meng Old Madam said.
âSigh, unknowingly, this many years have already passed.â The Grand Empress Dowager lamented,
âNow, weâre all old.â
âStill remember that time we secretly snuck out and ran into him, following behind him and
watching him treat the people. In a blink of an eye, it has already been decades.â
âHaha, back then, we were still just little girls. Now, even our great-grandchildren have already come
âYes, time passes so fastâŠâŠ..â
The two walked along as they sighed. When they arrived at the guest hall, they saw Hu Yi Jian and
the others already sitting inside.
âGreetings to the Grand Empress Dowager.â
âElder brother Hu, you all have nally come.â The Grand Empress Dowager lifted her hand, letting
everyone all get up. Afterwards, she walked to the main seat in the middle and sat down, while
Meng Old Madam sat down right below her.
âPreviously heard Qing Chen, that child, say you were coming, yet after waiting this many says, still
didnât see you. Thought that before returning to the palace, I wonât be able to meet you!â The Grand
(T/N: Lol itâs a bit weird hearing them call a gray hair old man âthat childâ.)
Du Xiao Li heard the Grand Empress Dowager address herself not as âthis grieving oneâ, but rather
as âIâ. It seems, their relationship with Hu Yi Jian was indeed not bad.
âOriginally planned on coming slowly, but after receiving Qing Chenâs news, explaining your
situation, we thus directly came to the capital.â Hu Yi Jian stroked his grizzled white beard.
On the way here, Hu Yi Jian didnât hurry at all. But two days ago, he received news from Qing Chen,
saying that the Grand Empress Dowagerâs body was unwell, so he let Wang Ze directly hurry
âPreviously, Qing Chen just said your body was unwell, and didnât say the specics either, whatâs
wrong?â Hu Yi Jian asked.
âItâs just Iâve gotten old, and this body is not good anymore.â The Grand Empress Dowager said.
There werenât any outsiders in the room, so Qing Chen had the Grand Empress Dowagerâs matter
âDid you diagnosis it?â Hu Yi Jian asked after he nished listening to Qing Chen.
âNot me, it was little junior sister. By the time I came to the capital, she already had the Grand
Empress Dowager received into the estate.â Qing Chen said.
âI also felt it couldnât have been you. You arenât familiar with gu arts after all.â Hu Yi Jian said, and
then looked to Du Xiao Li, âXiao Li, are you very knowledgable about the southwest gu arts?â
âA little.â Du Xiao Li said, âIn the past, I used to live in the southwestern direction, not very far from
the Miao border. Exiting our county, then cross another few hundred meters is the Miao borders. In
the past, when thereâs nothing to do, I would study this, but not very deeply.â
âYouâre very knowledgable in both medicine and poison already, but never thought youâve also
dabbled in gu arts.â Qing Chen said with a sigh.
Du Xiao Li smiled. She actually didnât use that much time. Just, because her iq was rather high, she
could learn everything very quickly. Besides, her medical skills were from her past life, so she didnât
spend too much time on this subject. More of her time was actually spent on researching poison.
This gu is also indeed liked she said, not a subject she studied in depth. She only understood some
relatively basic and simple ones. The overly complicated gu arts, she also didnât know.
The gu in the Grand Empress Dowagerâs body should be the person relying on the fact that no one
here understands gu, thus used the lowest level of gu.
Hu Yi Jian looked to Du Xiao Li in praise and then said to the Grand Empress Dowager,
âNevertheless, I should still take your pulse for you.â
The Grand Empress Dowager extended her arm, letting Hu Yi Jian take her pulse. Hu Yi Jian went
forward and meticulously took her pulse for a while. Afterwards, he let go and returned to his own
seat, saying: âYou body is quite well maintained, should be able to endure the impact of forcing out
âThese are all thanks to your little disciple.â Hearing Hu Yi Jian say this, the Grand Empress Dowager
was also very happy and beckoned her hand towards Du Xiao Li. Once Du Xiao Li walked over, she
pulled her over and sat her down next to her. âDuring this period of time, she has been using
medicinal cuisine to help adjust my body, else this body of time afraid wouldnât have many more
âGrandma Hanâs words are too serious. Xiao Li is just did what a doctor and a younger generation
should do, thatâs all. Moreover, grandma Han denitely can live a long life.â Du Xiao Li said with a
Fan Nuoâer, seeing everyone in the entire room all looking to Du Xiao Li, and then hearing Du Xiao
Liâs words, lowered her head and muttered, âJust know how to atter!â
Hu Yi Jian asked about when they will remove the gu, and Du Xiao Li explained that she was
currently concocting the medicine to inhibit the gu and needed two daysâ time. Thatâs why the time
was initially set for the day after tomorrow.
Learning that Du Xiao Li still needed to prepare the medicine, Hu Yi Jian and the others just had Du
Xiao Li kicked back to the medicine room. And after Wang Ze and Nuoâer nished arranging the
room, they had them go rest, while the three elderly gathered to reminisce about the past.
As Du Xiao Li was leaving, she looked to the three chatting and laughing, and smiled. To be able to
remain friends for decades in this era is also a relatively hard to come by thing.
âShishu, please wait a moment.â